Seven ships of Russian Pacific Fleet to have joint exercises with China

VLADIVOSTOK, April 13 (Itar-Tass) — Seven ships of the Russian Pacific Fleet will take part in the Russian-Chinese naval exercises, Marine Interaction 2012, in the Yellow Sea on April 22-27, the fleet press service told Itar-Tass on Friday.

The Russian naval group will made up of the Pacific Fleet flagship – the Varyag missile carrying cruiser – the Admiral Tributs, Marshal Shaposhnikov and Admiral Vinogradov large anti-sub ships, the Pechenga tanker and the MB-37 and SB-522 towboats.

Russian and Chinese sailors will practice anti-piracy and anti-terrorist operations. The sides, which are experienced in the provision of shipping security in the Gulf of Aden, will display their skills of escorting commercial ships and releasing a captured vessel. Kamov Ka-27 ship-based helicopters will give aerial support to the training sailors, and a Russian marine unit will be another backup. The sailors will have a shooting practice, as well. The exercises will end with a naval parade.

Russian Pacific Fleet ships already took part in joint exercises with China, Peace Mission 2006, under the aegis of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).